Associated Press
BOSTON ó Josh Beckett capped a brilliant first half of the season with a three-hitter, joining teammate Tim Wakefield as the only 11-game winners in the AL.
Beckett (11-3) retired the first nine batters, five on strikeouts, and picked up his 100th career victory. It was his second shutout and complete game of the season following his 3-0 win over Atlanta on June 20. He finished with seven strikeouts and no walks and threw just 94 pitches.
Red Sox Rookie Aaron Bates, called up last Monday, went 3 for 4 with two doubles and an RBI, and stabbed a line drive by Brayan Pena for the second out of the fifth.
Starter Bruce Chen (0-4) and five Royals relievers walked nine batters.
Mariners 5, Rangers 3
SEATTLE ó Pinch-hitter Chris Shelton and Rob Johnson hit consecutive RBI singles with two out in the seventh inning to lead Seattle.
All-Star Ichiro Suzuki had two hits and drove in a run for the Mariners, raising his batting average to .362 and extending his hitting streak to 11 games.
Twins 13, White Sox 7
MINNEAPOLIS ó Carlos Gomez drove in a career-high five runs and Minnesota had an unusually productive game against White Sox ace Mark Buehrle.
Buehrle (9-3) gave up eight runs and 10 hits in 31/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season.
Orioles 4, Blue Jays 2
BALTIMORE ó Brad Bergesen took a shutout into the seventh inning and Brian Roberts had two RBIs and Baltimore ended a miserable road trip for the Blue Jays.
Oscar Salazar homered and Roberts also scored a run for the Orioles. Baltimore has won six of its last nine series and trails the fourth-place Blue Jays by only three games in the AL East.
Toronto has lost 12 of 15 and went 2-8 on a swing through Yankee Stadium, Tampa Bay and Baltimore.
Bergesen (6-3) gave up two runs and seven hits in 62/3 innings.
Athletics 7, Rays 3
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. ó Orlando Cabrera hit a tiebreaking RBI single in Oakland’s four-run seventh and the Athletics beat the Rays.
Oakland starter Brett Anderson left after four scoreless innings due to lower back stiffness. Michael Wuertz (5-1) got the win, allowing a run and three hits in 11/3 innings and Andrew Bailey got six outs for his 10th save.
Tigers 10, Indians 1
DETROIT ó Clete Thomas drove in five runs and Brandon Inge homered twice for Detroit.
All-Star Justin Verlander (10-4) pitched seven shutout innings, allowing five hits and three walks. He struck out eight, giving him 149 for the season ó the most by a Tiger pitcher at the All-Star break since Mickey Lolich had 156 in 1972.